Presence of Ecuador in the Web of Science from open access in post-pandemic period 2019-2021: A multivariate analysis

Abstract

The study analyzed the presence of Ecuador in the post-pandemic Web of Science (WoS) from a multivariate dynamic, highlighting a significant transformation in scientific communication towards open access (OA). The methodology integrated multivariate statistical techniques, using R and specialized tools, to process 9,085 relevant articles. Between 2019 and 2021, 52% of Ecuadorian publications in WoS were open access. This movement reflects a commitment to quality research and accessibility, evidencing an increase in publications and citations under OA. The research highlights the importance of establishing robust national OA policies in Ecuador to promote scientific collaboration and an equitable distribution of knowledge. The dynamic biplot showed how universities in the post-pandemic period had stable and erratic behaviors towards open access. Of all the universities, the State University of Cuenca stands out in terms of quantity of production and migration to open access.